Astute Class Attack Submarine (SSN) (RN)
Re: Astute Class Attack Submarine (SSN) (RN)
£1.3b contract signed for the next Astute class submarine.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/13bn ... -submarine
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/13bn ... -submarine
Re: Astute Class Attack Submarine (SSN) (RN)
I'd be impressed if just one of these idiot politicians acknowledged the fact that seven boats is not enough, the RN needs a 10-12 strong Astute force.Lugzy wrote:£1.3b contract signed for the next Astute class submarine.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/13bn ... -submarine
Seven boats means that there will never be more than four actually available at any one time, and even that's a best case scenario.
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Re: Astute Class Attack Submarine (SSN) (RN)
Is the seventh one even confirmed to arrive in service?
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Re: Astute Class Attack Submarine (SSN) (RN)
Wow that's a lot of money!Lugzy wrote:£1.3b contract signed for the next Astute class submarine.
How come the last one costs the most?
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Re: Astute Class Attack Submarine (SSN) (RN)
Pretty sure it was in the manifestoThe Armchair Soldier wrote:Is the seventh one even confirmed to arrive in service?
Agree we need more. However even if the funds where available, the entire economics of building extras just won't work out.Cooper wrote: I'd be impressed if just one of these idiot politicians acknowledged the fact that seven boats is not enough, the RN needs a 10-12 strong Astute force.
Perhaps SSK's could provide some extra utility.
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Re: Astute Class Attack Submarine (SSN) (RN)
Yes, it is in the plan and some long lead orders have already been placed.The Armchair Soldier wrote:Is the seventh one even confirmed to arrive in service?
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Re: Astute Class Attack Submarine (SSN) (RN)
We couldn't even if the money was there...the new Trident boats will take all of the submarine construction capacity we have after the seventh boat is completed.shark bait wrote: Agree we need more. However even if the funds where available, the entire economics of building extras just won't work out.
More Astute's would mean years of delays to the new SSBN.
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Re: Astute Class Attack Submarine (SSN) (RN)
Cooper wrote: We couldn't even if the money was there...the new Trident boats will take all of the submarine construction capacity we have after the seventh boat is completed.
More Astute's would mean years of delays to the new SSBN.
Yep, that's what I meant by the economics of it not working out. It would be a logistical nightmare!
As much as I would like it there is very little chance of extra astutes.
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Re: Astute Class Attack Submarine (SSN) (RN)
The seventh and final Astute class submarine will be named HMS Ajax (SS125). Expected delivery in 2024
Re: Astute Class Attack Submarine (SSN) (RN)
Talk about not doing your research before writing an article!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-35088144
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-35088144
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Re: Astute Class Attack Submarine (SSN) (RN)
Third Astute-class sub, Artful, is now part of the fleet, bringing the RN back up to 7 SSNs.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/thir ... royal-navy
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/thir ... royal-navy
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Re: Astute Class Attack Submarine (SSN) (RN)
Sounds like the final astute is no longer called Ajax, because the army stole the name perhaps.
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id ... gHL4049.r0The build time for the Astute class submarines has reduced with every boat built to date. HMS Agamemnon and the yet to be named Boat 7 are both at a very early stage of construction. However, as published in the National Audit Office Major Projects Report 2015, their expected operational handover dates are May 2022 and March 2024 respectively.
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Re: Astute Class Attack Submarine (SSN) (RN)
That's a great name.shark bait wrote:HMS Agamemnon
I vote for apollo, HMS Apollo.
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Re: Astute Class Attack Submarine (SSN) (RN)
Audacious, Arrow and Argonaut would be my shortlist, Ark Royal's just too iconic a carrier name to use it for a submarine imo.SKB wrote:A is for Ark Royal... ?
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Re: Astute Class Attack Submarine (SSN) (RN)
Achilles, Aggressor, Austere, Aurora, Ascension... Ardent?
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Re: Astute Class Attack Submarine (SSN) (RN)
Personally, I would be very fond of HMS Acheron making a return.
Re: Astute Class Attack Submarine (SSN) (RN)
3rd Astute Class SSN Submarine HMS Artful Fires 1st Torpedo Using New Common Combat System
http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... ew&id=3628The Royal Navy’s latest and most advanced Astute class submarine, Artful, has test fired her first torpedo using a new Common Combat System designed and integrated by our Submarines business.
The Common Combat System acts as the submarine’s ‘brain’ – controlling its ‘eyes’, ‘ears’ and ‘nervous system’. Artful, the third in the Astute class family, is the first to use this new technology which is now being retrofitted to earlier Astute class submarines. Work will soon begin to also retrofit Vanguard class submarines.
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Re: Astute Class Attack Submarine (SSN) (RN)
Good news for the new system, Common Combat System using commercial components is a great step forward, and good to see its up and running.
I was thinking about the Astute today. Given the Australians requirement is for 12 subs, and assuming their reasoning is sound could we say our requirement in reality close to 12, but we are financially and industrially constrained to 7 Astutes.
We are both strong allies living under the wings of the Americans striving for interoperability with them. We both have neighbours in our back yard that are prolific operators of nuclear subs. We are both island nations who are largely responsible for the maritime security of their religion. Yet we have the greater industry and GDP and only have 7. Again assuming they have sound reasoning it would make sense to assume our real requirement is much more than 7. Should we look to increase our ambitions and match the Australians?
of course we would have to wait until the completion of the successor program or acquire a batch of SSK's.
I was thinking about the Astute today. Given the Australians requirement is for 12 subs, and assuming their reasoning is sound could we say our requirement in reality close to 12, but we are financially and industrially constrained to 7 Astutes.
We are both strong allies living under the wings of the Americans striving for interoperability with them. We both have neighbours in our back yard that are prolific operators of nuclear subs. We are both island nations who are largely responsible for the maritime security of their religion. Yet we have the greater industry and GDP and only have 7. Again assuming they have sound reasoning it would make sense to assume our real requirement is much more than 7. Should we look to increase our ambitions and match the Australians?
of course we would have to wait until the completion of the successor program or acquire a batch of SSK's.
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Re: Astute Class Attack Submarine (SSN) (RN)
During the 80s I believe the requirement was for about 12 SSNs with an aspiration for about 15. Under these less strenuous conditions I think ten is probably a reasonable aspiration. It's what we decided on when the Astutes were first planned, but serious delays in production reduced it to seven. Under more "normal" circumstances, with a little better management of the SSN/SSBN production schedule, I think we could comfortably churn out a run of ten SSNs if the money was there.shark bait wrote:I was thinking about the Astute today. Given the Australians requirement is for 12 subs, and assuming their reasoning is sound could we say our requirement in reality close to 12, but we are financially and industrially constrained to 7 Astutes.
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Re: Astute Class Attack Submarine (SSN) (RN)
Engaging Strategy wrote:Audacious, Arrow and Argonaut would be my shortlist, Ark Royal's just too iconic a carrier name to use it for a submarine imo.SKB wrote:A is for Ark Royal... ?
Isn`t Audacious boat 4 ?
Re: Astute Class Attack Submarine (SSN) (RN)
It is.
They curiously haven't yet firmed up the name for the 7th Astute. I'm wondering if the name Ajax having been taken by the Army for the Scout will cause a Navy rethink, at this point...
They curiously haven't yet firmed up the name for the 7th Astute. I'm wondering if the name Ajax having been taken by the Army for the Scout will cause a Navy rethink, at this point...
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Re: Astute Class Attack Submarine (SSN) (RN)
Until HMS Dreadnought was decommissioned, I believe there was a planning assumption for 18 nuclear boats + SSKs. The 1981 Defence White Paper stated that there were 12 SSNs in service and would go up to 17 + SSKs. The 12 figure came with the decommissioning of all the Valiant and Churchill-class boats and HMS Swiftsure in the post-Cold War "peace dividend" changes. This left 5 Swiftsure and 7 Trafalgar-class SSNs, for a total of 12. The 1998 SDR reduced the SSN force from 12 to 10.Engaging Strategy wrote:During the 80s I believe the requirement was for about 12 SSNs with an aspiration for about 15. Under these less strenuous conditions I think ten is probably a reasonable aspiration. It's what we decided on when the Astutes were first planned, but serious delays in production reduced it to seven. Under more "normal" circumstances, with a little better management of the SSN/SSBN production schedule, I think we could comfortably churn out a run of ten SSNs if the money was there.shark bait wrote:I was thinking about the Astute today. Given the Australians requirement is for 12 subs, and assuming their reasoning is sound could we say our requirement in reality close to 12, but we are financially and industrially constrained to 7 Astutes.
IIRC, the 1990 Options for Change review called for 16 submarines, three quarters of which would be nuclear-powered (plus the 4 Trident boats) - which would be the 5 Swiftsure, 7 Trafalgar and 4 Upholder.